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Health kicks
With a plethora of outdoor activities,state-of-the-art
gyms and specialty sports facilities, Montreal is making it easier than
ever to get fit and stay healthy.
by Raluca State
THE
NEW MEGACITY RULES
 With
the recent mergers joining together Montreal’s unique communities
into one mega-city, your spring fitness plans may be subject to a new
set of rules.
Since we are now one big entity made up of various boroughs, residents
throughout the island should technically have access to all the facilities
available in any community right? Well leave it to our fair city to
make this more complicated than it seems. Some of the new boroughs have
put strict regulations into place concerning their outdoor facilities
while others have left their structure up to the mega-city’s administrative
powers.
If you want to go play in Côte St-Luc/Hampstead/Montreal West,
Town of Mont Royal, Outremont, Verdun or Westmount, you will be obliged
to present a recreation card to have access to outdoor facilities such
as swimming pools and tennis courts. These cards are available to all
residents of Montreal, but are borough-specific, which means a Westmount
card will not give you access to an Outremont pool. Certain boroughs
offer priority to their residents and prices vary depending on where
you want to get in shape (i.e. Westmount is charging $11 per person
or $22 per family for their card). Keep in mind that this recreation
card does not give you free access to outdoor facilities, you still
need to pay any applicable entrance fees.
Confusing enough for you? Other boroughs such as Côte des Neiges/NDG,
Mercier/Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Plateau Mont Royal, Riviere des Prairies/Montreal
East, Rosemont, Sud Ouest, Ville-Marie and the Villeray area have decided
to play by the mega-city’s rules. In these areas membership cards
are not mandatory yet, but you will have to show proof of Montreal residency
to dive in.
The city’s 150 or so outdoor swimming pools will open in mid-June
and drain out in late August. They are open seven days a week from 11:30
a.m .– 7 p.m. Taking a dip is free unless you go on weekends and/or
holidays when people under 18 pay $1, adults between 18-54 pay $2.75
and seniors over 55 pay $2.
Tennis is always a popular spring fitness kick and Montreal has over
500 outdoor courts to help bring out your inner McEnroe. Courts can
be reserved seven days a week from 7 a.m.–8 p.m. and cost $8.50
per court, per hour. However, there are some freebies to be found and
you can contact your borough’s sports and recreation facility to
find the one nearest you. Another way to save some bucks is to pick
up an Acces-Montreal card. For a mere $5 per year, the card gives you
instant rebates at various cultural and recreational hotspots and makes
tennis court reservations a little cheaper.
Here is a list of the outdoor swimming pools and tennis courts in
your area:
Côte-des-Neiges/
Notre Dame de Grace: 872-6363
Tennis courts: Somerled (4900 Hampton), Kent (3220 Appleton)
Outdoor pools: Benny ( 6445 Monkland), Confederation (6265 Biermens),
Kent (6262 Hudson)
Côte St-Luc/Hampstead/Montreal
West: 485-6800
Tennis courts: Rembrandt (corner Kildare)
Outdoor pools: Municipal pool (7500 Mackle),
Hampstead Community Center (30 Lyncroft), Legion Rink (220 Bedrook)
Mercier/Hochelaga-Maisonneuve:
872-2273
Tennis courts: Louis Riel (Duquesne and Gerin-Lajoie)
Outdoor pools: L.O. Taillon (9200 Notre Dame E.), Maisonneuve (4350
de Rouen)
Montreal North:
328-4000 * Free tennis
Tennis courts: Parc St. Laurent (rue Salk), Parc Sauvé (rue Bayonne)
Outdoor pools: Calixa-Lavallée ( 11345 Pelletier), Henri-Bourassa
(12002 Laurier)
Town of Mont-Royal:
734-2900
Tennis courts: Mohawk Park (corner of Rockland and Vivian)
Outdoor pools: Municipal pool (1000 Dunkirk)
Outremont: 495-6200
Tennis courts: Parc St-Viateur (Querbes and Bernard), Parc Garneau (Elmwood
and Outremont), Parc Joyce (Rockland and Lajoie), Parc Oakwood (Roskilde
Ave.)
Outdoor pools: John F. Kennedy Pool ( 860 Outremont), Patinoire d’Outremont
(999 McEachran )
Plateau Mont-Royal/Centre
Sud/Ville-Marie: 872-2644
Tennis courts: Médéric Martin (2255 du Havre) *FREE, Jeanne-Mance
Park (4420 Esplanade)
Outdoor pools: Baldwin (2330 Rachel E.) , Sir Wilfrid Laurier (5200
Brébeuf)
Riviere des
Prairies/Pointe aux Trembles: 872-6006
Tennis courts: Daniel Johnson (1501 du Tricentenaire), Clémentine
de la Rousseliere (14002 Notre Dame E .) *FREE, Poly P.A.T. (15200 Sherbrooke
E.)
Outdoor pools: Alexis-Carrel (12550 Alexis-Carrel),
Des Pins (3975 42nd Ave.), Richelieu (285 Richelieu), St-Georges (13000
Prince-Albert), Ste-Maria Goretti (490 85th Ave.)
Rosemont/Petite-Patrie:
872-6555
Tennis courts: Beaubien (Beaubien and 9th Ave.), Ste-Bernadette (Ste-Zotique
and 19th Ave.) *FREE, St-Émile (Sherbrooke and Davidson) *FREE
Outdoor pools: Joseph Paré (6525 41st Ave.), Le Pelican (2560
Masson)
Sud Ouest: 872-3066
Tennis courts: St-Jean-de-Matha (Dumas and Allard), De la Vérendrye
(5900 Drake)
Outdoor pools: George Étienne Cartier (4550 Ste-Émilie),
Ignace Bouret (5925 de Montmagny )
Verdun: 765-7000
Tennis courts: Park Brown (Brown Road), Park Reine Elizabeth (Crawford
Bridge Road)
Outdoor pools: Natatorium ( 6500 Lasalle )
Villeray/St-Michel/Park
Extension: 872-6381
Tennis courts: Jarry Park (285 Faillon W. )
François Perrault (7501 François-Perrault ) *FREE, Georges-Vernot
(8475 13th Ave.) *FREE
Outdoor pools: Jarry Pool (205 Faillon W.), François Perrault
(7525 François Perrault), Ste-Lucie (9093 16th Ave.)
Westmount: 989-5200
Tennis courts: Devon Park (between Upper Lansdowne and Upper Belmont),
Westmount Park (corner Sherbrooke and Melville), King George Park (Côte
St-Antoine and Murray), Westmount Athletic Grounds (Ste-Catherine and
Hallowell)
Outdoor pools: Municipal pool (4675 Ste-Catherine W.)
IRON
PUMPING
 A
guide to the city’s top 10 gyms
If swimming some
laps at the local pool isn’t hardcore enough for you, there’s
no better time to join a gym and replace that hour on the couch with
an hour on the treadmill. We looked up 10 of the city’s most popular
workout spots so all you have left to do is sign up:
1. CEPSUM –
Campus gym at Université de Montreal.
Location: 2100 Édouard Montpetit, 343-6150, www.sports.umontreal.ca.
Membership prices: $495 plus taxes per year without the weight room,
$565 everything included. Free for Université de Montreal students
and discount prices for faculty.
Pros: Good facilities, free for U de M students.
Cons: Not the cheapest prices for everyone else.
2. Club Sportif
MAA – A magnificent gym that caters to the city’s fitness
elite.
Location: 2070 Peel, 845-1018, www.clubsportifmaa.com.
Membership prices: $1,260 per year for adults, $780 for people under
30 and $720 for seniors plus $150 initiation fee.
Pros: High-end luxury, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and
a great mix of classes.
Cons: Pricey membership fees and extra costs for lockers, squash and
racquetball.
3. Énergie
Cardio – A powerhouse that’ll have you working off those poutines
in no time.
Location(s): 2175 Mont-Royal, 596-2967; Alexis Nihon Plaza, 939-1234;
333 Notre Dame E., 866-3110; and more, www.energiecardio.com
Membership prices: Spring special $27.15 plus tax per month plus initiation
fee of $39.50.
Pros: Several locations, personal training programs for diet, exercise
and quitting smoking.
Cons: Smaller cardio rooms, no student discounts.
4. Fitness Gym
Life – A women’s only gym run by men.
Location: 372 Ste-Catherine W., 871-1111
Membership prices: $99 plus taxes for one year, includes everything
except tanning.
Pros: There are no men, cheap membership prices, lots of machines, health
bar and 54 aerobic classes per week.
Cons: There are no men, cramped locker room.
5. La Cité
– A modern high-tech facility for the young and the beautiful.
Location: 3575 du Parc, 288-8221
Membership prices: $460 plus tax per year gives you access to everything.
Technically, it’s $1 per day but they throw in an initiation fee.
Pros: Lots of equipment, heated outdoor pool, immaculate facilities
and prime location.
Cons: Packed full of models and actors.
6. McGill Athletics
– Campus facilities for students and the general public.
Location: 475 des Pins W., 398-7000, www.
athletics.mcgill.ca.
Membership prices: $58 per month for general public, $47 per month for
non-McGill students and even cheaper for McGill scholars who fund the
gym through their student services fees. Look out for a summer special
coming soon.
Pros: Great student deals, good facilities including a pool, running
track and three fitness centres.
Cons: Not the best deal for the general public.
7. Nautilus Plus
– Dependable chain with several locations and a variety of activities.
Location: 1231 Ste-Catherine W. and others, 843-5993, www.nautilusplus.com.
Membership prices: Prices vary depending on the services you want. Access
to aerobics, cardio machines and free weights will set you back $38.95
plus tax per month. Initiation fee of $25. Special discounts for people
25 and under.
Pros: You only pay for the services you want, several locations, great
cardio room.
Cons: Complicated sign-up procedure which often involves sitting with
a salesperson and wasting a good 30 minutes of your day.
8. The Rock Gym
– An independently-owned downtown haven that pumps iron 24 hours
a day.
Location: 680 Ste-Catherine W., 3rd floor, 875-2766, www.therockgym.net.
Membership prices: $225 annual membership or $79 for 3 months.
Pros: Open 24 hours, full juice bar, two floors of free weights and
tanning beds.
Cons: Cramped cardio room.
9. Sporting Club
du Sanctuaire – Not quite the MAA but very close.
Location: 6105 du Boisé, 737-0000, www.clubsanctuaire.com
Membership prices: $114 per month plus $385 initiation fee.
Pros: Prime facilities, private training sessions, full health spa,
membership promotions.
Cons: Out-of-the-way location, extra fees for racquet sports, hefty
initiation fee.
10. YMCA –
An age-old staple in the wide world of gyms.
Location: Too many to count! Some popular neighbourhood Y’s are
downtown (1440 Stanley), in Mile End (5550 du Parc) and in NDG (4335
Hampton) but they can also be found in Westmount, Centre Sud and Ville
St-Laurent, www.ymcamontreal.qc.ca.
Membership prices: $44.50 per month for adults, $31.50 for seniors and
$31 for students gives you access to any Y in Canada. However, some
locations offer cheaper memberships, which can only be used at the point
of purchase.
Pros: Location, location, location, reasonable prices and brand new
everything on Stanley.
Cons: Overcrowding and occasionally less than stellar equipment.
SUNDAY IN THE
PARK
 Where
to go for free fitness fun
Did you know that almost anywhere you go on the island there is a park
within four kilometres of you? That adds up to a lot of greenspace—
the perfect springtime playground!
Some to check out:
Parc de la Confédération (NDG) – Open playing field,
soccer field, baseball diamond.
Parc Loyola (NDG) – Open playing field, soccer field, baseball
diamond, kiddie pool.
Parc Mont-Royal (Côte des Neiges) – Open playing field, cycling
paths, jogging paths.
Parc Lafontaine (Plateau) – Open playing field, soccer field, baseball
diamond, kiddie pool.
Parc Sir Wilfrid Laurier (Plateau) – Open playing field, soccer
field, baseball diamond, cycling paths.
Parc Jeanne-Mance (Plateau) – Open playing field, soccer field,
baseball diamond, kiddie pool, cycling paths.
Parc Ignace-Bourget (Sud Ouest) – Open playing field, soccer field,
baseball diamond, kiddie pool.
Parc de la Vérendrye (Verdun) – Open playing field, baseball
diamond.
Parc Howard (Park Extension) – Open playing field, soccer field,
baseball diamond.
Parc Pierre Elliott Trudeau (Côte St-Luc/Hampstead/Montreal West)
– Open playing field, basketball court, bocci.
King George Park (Westmount) – Open playing field, baseball diamond,
croquet space.
FIT WITH A TWIST
 Some
new ideas for your fitness routine
For those of you who need a bit of enticing, there are several diverse
activities out there that can throw a curveball into your fitness routine.
Here are some to try out:
Golf: Golf facilities
are abundant in Montreal and the surrounding areas. Check out Club de
Golf de l’Île de Montreal (3700 Damien-Gauthier in Pointe
aux Trembles, 642-4567), a prestigious course that is open to the public
and caters to all levels of play. Prices vary depending on when you
want to play. Golf UFO (4600 Dagenais W. in Laval, 450-627-1214) has
over 6,000 yards of terrain mere minutes from the city. Illuminated
9-hole courses are open 24 hours a day. $28 from Monday to Thursday,
$32 on Fridays, $36 on weekends and holidays. Golf Métropolitain
Anjou (9555 du Golf in Anjou, 353-5353) offers a championship course
and an executive course and new indoor practice and training facilities.
Prices range from $16 to $49.50 depending on the course and time of
day.
Horseback riding:
The perfect way to work out that couch potato butt, horseback riding
facilities may be a little out-of-the-way, but it’s well worth
the trip. Try Ranch Martine (588 St-Emmanuel in Saint Clet, 450-456-1102)
where they offer riding lessons, sleigh rides and indoor training rings.
Double J Ranch (1647 St-Louis in Sainte-Lazare 450-455-7075) is a friendly
ranch where you can go trail riding with an experienced guide for $15
an hour. Make reservations in advance!
Rock-climbing:
Certainly not your average day at the gym! Here are some rock-climbing
facilities in the downtown area: Allez-Up (1339 Shearer, 989-9656) is
perfect for working out, birthday parties or staff outings. Pay $35
for a two-hour introductory course then $12 for a day pass or $55 for
a monthly pass. Horizon Roc (2350 Dickson, 899-5000) offers courses,
free climbing and great group rates, $40 for a three-hour introductory
course, $12.90 for a day pass and $60 for a monthly pass. Centre d’escalade
Clic (4265 Papineau, 527-1256) has a lengthy three and a half hour beginners’
course for $40, then 10 visits for $60, 20 for $100 etc.
Bike riding: We
all know that Montrealers love to welcome spring with a bike ride throughout
the city streets. But for a different tour, check out these cycling
paths: Lachine Canal (starting at de la Commune, 283-6054) is a favourite
spot within the city’s borders. For a jaunt outside the hustle
and bustle try Parc d’Oka (2020 Oka, 450-479-8337) and Parc du
Mont Orford (Mont Orford, Magog, 819-843-9855).
Yoga: For those
of you who still haven’t jumped on the Zen fitness fad, there is
still time to introduce your body and mind to the world of yoga. Although
most gyms offer yoga classes, there are several centres that specialize
in the workout alternative. Some to look into: Centre Sivananda de Yoga
Vedanta (5178 St-Laurent, 279-3545) offers a wide variety of classes
for children, adults and seniors at any level. Yogaspace hosts courses
all over the city and has affordable instruction for novices and experts
(933-8671, www.yogaspace.com). Ashtanga Yoga Studio (372 Ste-Catherine
W. suite 118, 420-0123) is a downtown haven that also offers a complete
schedule of classes for any aspiring yogi.
Skateboarding: Although Montreal is not known for accommodating skateboarders,
there are a few spots in the area you can still check out without being
arrested. Jarry Park (285 Faillon W., 273-1234) is a favourite spot
for local skaters and Parc Ahuntsic (10555 rue La Jeunesse, 872-0769)
also has its fair share of skateable terrain. The big attraction, however,
is to be found on the South Shore with Universe (222 Brien in Repentigny,
450-581-1095) and the Boucherville Park (3535 Jules-Léger, 450-655-9988).
Kung Fu: Martial
arts have come into the foreground of fitness fads, blending physical
and mental training to give invigorating results à la Crouching
Tiger. Stop by Fang Shen Do Patenaude Kung-Fu School (6968 St-Denis,
2nd floor, 276-2701) or Institut de Kung Fu Kai Leung (24 Mont-Royal
W, 289-9898) for a quick class in kicking butt.
Jogging: Yes you
can pretty much jog anywhere in the city and get a great, free workout,
but why not check out the Lachine Canal (starting at de la Commune St.,
283-6054), Mount Royal Park (Mont-Royal, 843-8240) or Île Ste-Hélène
to put an extra spring in your step?
Baseball: Our professional
baseball team may not be throwing its weight around these days, but
the good old ballpark is still a great place to get in shape and have
some fun. The NDG Minor Baseball League (5764 Monkland, #225, 851-1314)
is a Little League organization that offers pitching and hitting clinics
free of charge to people 23 and under. For you older players, they are
also looking for umpires, scorekeepers and coaches to lend a hand. Also
check out your local park to see if there’s a baseball diamond
on the premises.
Beach volleyball:
If you can get in on one of the local beach volleyball games happening
throughout the spring and summer, you may never return to the gym again.
Parc Jeanne-Mance (du Parc and Mont-Royal) and Parc Lafontaine (Parc
Lafontaine and Cherrier/Sherbrooke) each have sand volleyball courts
that are packed throughout the warmer seasons. Get there early, sign
up and don’t forget the sunblock! •
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